Oregon Sexual Abuse
Many people have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of someone they trusted – even someone entrusted with their wellbeing. We are familiar with cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church due to several media publicized cases of priest sexual abuse, but church sex scandals are just one example of an issue that affects many in Oregon. Oregon sexual abuse also occurs at schools, camps, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and other places where circumstances allow. Oregon is one of five states in which more than 500 survivors of clerical sexual abuse are being paid a total of $166.1 million in damages. Speaking out about sexual abuse is important in two ways: It can stop the abuser from hurting others and it helps bring a sense of closure for the victim. Speaking out can feel intimidating, but you and your loved ones are not alone. Lawyers such as Sam Rogatinsky specialize in helping you find your voice in court.
Sexual Abuse
Unlike clergy abuse, sexual abuse can be perpetrated by anyone and occur anywhere. The most common places for sexual abuse to occur are schools, camps, nursing homes, mental health facilities, group homes, and organizations such as the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. Countless children have been sexually abused in Oregon by those who were entrusted with their care, such as teachers, Boy Scout leaders, camp counselors, and so on. These adults are supposed to protect children, but instead cause them harm, such as Chad Schacht, the Sheldon High School cross-country coach convicted of having sex with a 15-year-old female student in Eugene, Oregon.
Adults are also sexually abused. At nursing homes and mental health facilities all over Oregon, social workers and psychologists take advantage of the vulnerable adults that they are supposed to be protecting. Fortunately, the perpetrators can be made to pay for the pain they have caused, but you must seek representation. Sam will help to make sure that everything possible is done to assure that your suffering has not been in vain.
Clergy Abuse
Although the Catholic Church is not the only venue for sexual abuse, it has been the most publicized due to the lack of bishop accountability. When the media picked up on the fact that bishops were just moving sexually abusive priests to another church, news outlets ran with the story. The truth is that clergy abuse includes not only Catholic priests, but rabbis, ministers, reverends, pastors, office staff at places of worship, religious youth directors, and anyone who works for a place of worship, such as the troop leader from the Boy Scouts of America, which settled out of court for allowing the abuse of six scouts in Oregon. If you or someone you know has been sexually abused by someone in this category, you now have an avenue of help available to you. You do not have to be a victim anymore. Contact Sam to find out how you can take control of what happened and help make sure it doesn’t happen to others.
Oregon Sexual Abuse and Clergy Abuse Statute of Limitations
In the state of Oregon, there is Delayed Tolling for sexual offenses against minors so sexual abuse survivors who are minors have until they turn 18 plus an additional period of 6 years to file their claim.
Oregon law does recognize the Discovery or”Should Have Discovered” Rule and the law allows a claim to be brought any time within three years from the date of discovery or the date that a reasonable person would have discovered the injury caused by the sexual abuse.
The legislature has decided that the six-year statute of limitations and the three-year discovery statute are retroactive, and apply to all causes of action that arise before, on or after the effective date of July 8, 1993. This law revives any cause of action that was previously barred by the 1991 statute. Also, any claim brought before the 1993 statute that was previously barred by the 40 years of age constraint was is now free to be brought up until one year after the commencement of the 1993 statute.
If you were sexually abused by a priest, rabbi, coach, psychologist or any other person who sexually abused you, please don’t feel ashamed. We want to help you.
Contact me, sexual abuse lawyer Samuel Rogatinsky at (954) 995-3805 or send an email to samr@sexabuseattorney.org